1st Place Midsize Employer: Townsend Leather

PAUL BUCKOWSKIDry floor specialists, Mike Nuzzo, left, and Mike Spinks work on embossing a design into pieces of leather at Townsend Leather on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Johnstown, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)

PAUL BUCKOWSKIEmployees, Chris Clizbe, left, Tyler Wilson, second from left, Ed Bauman, third from left, and Justin Burroughs work on stretching pieces of leather at Townsend Leather on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Johnstown, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)

PAUL BUCKOWSKIA view of various examples of the hand-tipped leather pieces created by employees at Townsend Leather, seen here on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Johnstown, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)

PAUL BUCKOWSKIEmployees, Kevin Kowalski, background left, and Jeremy LeBarron hang a large piece of leather after it comes off the finishing spray line at Townsend Leather on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Johnstown, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)

PAUL BUCKOWSKIEmployees, Oakley Cole, left, and Bill Mouck pull a large piece of leather to feed it into a machine that will soften the material at Townsend Leather on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Johnstown, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)

When the president of the United States settles in for a trip on Air Force One, he relaxes his hide on one made by Townsend Leather.

The Johnstown company, approaching its 50th year in 2019, is tops in leather upholstery for luxury aviation manufacturers and hotel designers. That's because Townsend has made it its business to provide specialized colors, embossing and embroidery on flawless hides from the world's most pampered bulls.

"We are not making a commodity," said Sarah Eckler, vice president of sales and marketing. "We are making special leather for very high-end corporate, private, casino, aviation, hotel clients. Quality is very important."

It wasn't always that way. Eckler said her grandfather, Albert "Red" Kucel, started the business in 1969 when there were a hundred other leather manufacturers in the area.

"Through the 1970s and '80s, they would produce two colors a month, a black and brown, and about a million square feet a week that went into making belts, shoes and garments," Eckler said.

When Kucel died unexpectedly in an accident in the early 1980s, Eckler's father, Terry, took over and moved the business toward the niche manufacturer it is today. It started with the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, ruler of the tiny nation on the island of Borneo, who was named by Time magazine in 2015 as the second wealthiest person in the world. He wanted specialty colors, metallic on deerskin, for his private jet.

"My parents and the finishing team, some of who are still here, figured out how to ...make that exact color," Eckler said. "Through the '90s, we got darn good at that. We'll do as little as one hide in a custom color. That opened us up to the corporate aviation world. Cessna came on board in the '90s. Then in the 2000s, we had the Air Force One opportunity."

Now Townsend produces about 3 million square feet a year in every color, texture and pattern imaginable. And it's not just for upholstery, they have made wall and floor tiles. Fashion designers have joined the Townsend bandwagon, making bags, belts, shoes, pillows and other accessories out of their pig skins, which they also color, emboss and embroider.

The beauty of Townsend's upholstery leather starts with bulls who graze in German pastures. Eckler said those cattle, raised for beef, have the softest and smoothest of hides.

"The best hides come from Germany because those bulls have room to roam," Eckler said. "They are not crowded in pens where they can get cuts or scratched up. German bulls are treated very well. Our bulls get hugs."

Eckler said Townsend values its employees as much as the Germans do their bulls. To repay the employees and craftspeople, the company aims to help them maintain a healthy life-work balance. To that end, the manufacturer hosts employee luncheons and parties with prizes including weekend getaways, bottles of wine and custom New Balance sneakers. They also offer yoga and host a wellness fair during the workday. Employees are also encouraged to volunteer in the community as mentors and raise money for charities in Johnstown and beyond.

The employees praise the Townsend management too, with one stating on the Top Workplaces survey that working there "makes me feel like I hit the jackpot."

Director of Human Resources Pamela Goldswer said that is the company's intention.

"The business revolves around the culture of the family," Goldswer said. "The people here are very special. We make sure everyone is taken care of, is welcomed and excited. ... They buy into making a great product because they care deeply about what they do and doing a great job. Townsend is an amazing place to be."

"I am part of something greater than just selling an amazing product. I am part of a team who cares for me as an individual and values my strength and potential. We are growing and learning to become something even bigger together."

"I love my job because you are able to be who are. You are able to have fun at work and still get your job done. I love that you can work alone or as a team. It feels good to go to work every day knowing your team members and upper management always have your back."

"Words cannot express how truly blessed and honored I am to work for such an amazing company. There are no other companies in the area that can match the true greatness of Townsend Leather."

"We make a positive impact for the partners that work at Townsend and the community in general."

"Everyone really works as a team and we are proud to stand behind our product."